PolyOne Corp.'s distribution unit has expanded its product mix to include silicone products made by Dow Corning Corp. for North American health-care device manufacturers.
Dow Corning's silicone elastomers are used in numerous medical devices, including electrocardiogram tabs, catheters and angioplasty balloons.
“Increased access to our materials and technology will enable out customers to further address evolving health-care mega-trends, such as the aging population and the rise of chronic diseases,” Carol Pudnos, Dow Corning global health-care industry director, said in a recent news release.
The silicone products will be the first non-thermoplastic product carried by PolyOne Distribution, according to officials with the Avon Lake, Ohio-based firm. The addition “will expand PolyOne's ability to provide customer value by helping health-care device manufacturers and processors streamline logistics and simplify inventory management,” PolyOne Distribution President Michael Rademacher said in the release.
The agreement includes distribution of liquid silicone rubber, solid silicone products and silicone tubing. Since 2008, PolyOne Distribution has added health-care grades of resin from DuPont Co., BASF Corp., Dow Chemical Co., LyondellBasell Industries AF SCA and Arkema Group.
PolyOne's distribution business ranks as one of North America's largest resin distributors. Its parent firm ranks as the region's largest compounder and concentrate maker.
Dow Corning, based in Midland, Mich., is a 50-50 joint venture between plastics and chemicals leader Dow Chemical Co. and Corning Inc., a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics.
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